Shock absorber



July 31, 195] E, BLUE 2,562,595

SHQCK ABSORBER Filed April 22, 1946 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I I p 4IINVENTOR.

Fwzzzw. BY

R. E. BLUE SHOCK ABSORBER July 31, 1951 Filed April 22, 1946 2Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Patented July 31, 1951 snoop ABSORBER Roy Blue, Detroit, Mich, assignorto Chrysler Corporation, Highland ark, c a cameratiqa f, De a eApplication April 22, 1946, Serial No. 663,910

3 Claims. i

My invention relates- -to shock absorbers and more particularly toshock'absorbers installed in stabilizing struts and tie rods of motorvehicles.

It is an object of my invention to provide a shock absorber of simpleconstruction which'may be economically manufactured. It has been thepractice to make devices of this nature of the hydraulic type whichutilize a cylinder, a piston, a fluid, and various combinations ofvalves and restricted openings. It is believed that these devices areunduly complicated and expensive to manufacture.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a shock absorberconstruction whose performance is uniform and not affected by changes inhumidity or weather.

Another object of this invention is to provide a shock absorberconstruction which operates with a-minimum of noise or squeak.

It is a further object of this device to provide a shock absorberconstruction which can be used in the stabilizing strut commonly used asa transverse connecting rod'between the vehicles-sprung portion (usuallyits frame) and the unsprun portion or rear axle to check side sway andwhich, with but slight modification, can be installed in the tie rods orlinkage connecting the vehicle steering mechanism with the front wheelmount mgs.

The shock absorber construction described herein is not limited inapplication to vehicle tie rods and stabilizer struts, but these arerepresentative uses of the shock absorber. Otheruses could also be foundbut my description will, for th sake of brevity, limit itself to theseapplications.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a horizontal view of a portion of an automobile chassisshowing the places that my invention is to be installed.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-=2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-.-.3 of Fig. 1 showing theconstruction of shock absorber used in the stabilizer strut.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 11-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of a modified form of the Fig. 3device.

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6:6 of Fig. 5 showing the constructionof shock absorber used in the stabilizer strut.

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of the device-used in the frontwheel tie rods.

Fig. 8 is a section on the line Be-.8 of Fig. 7.

In the drawing my invention is shown applied to a motor vehicle chassishaving longitudinally extending transversely spaced side rails [.0 whichindependent rising and falling movement by suite able means well knownintheart.

The front road wheels I5and l6 have rear- 5 l wardly extending steeringarms I! and I8 respecl usualrejduction gearing generally indicated at tooscillate or swing the pitman arm 2-6 in the 20 as integral parts of thetie rods.

tively having jointed connections 18 and 2,0 with tie rods "2| and 22,respectively. The usual steering wheel 23 operates a shaft (not shown)dis.- posed in the housing 24. This shaft operates the well known mannerfor imparting steering move.- ments to the wheels 15 and it. Two shockabsorbers .39 to be described herein are assembled The rear road wheels.32 and 3,3 are mounted on a rear axle contained in housing .34 andsprung from the frameside rails 80 in the usual manner.

The spring structure is not shown herein. A;

22' stabilizer strut 35 is rotatably mounted at 36 on brackets? fixed toframe side rail it. The other end of strut 35 is-rot-atably mounted onrear axle housing 3 5 at 38. Shock absorber 4D vis incorporated inthestructure of strut 35.

The resistance to relative movement between two members is effected inmy shock absorber by the friction between a surface of molded andsintered powdered metal having a lubricant content and the surface ofone of the members. Means are provided tokeep these contacting surfacesunder pressure to increase the friction between them.

Figs. 3 and .4 illustrate the construction of the shock absorber 40 asused in the stabilizer strut 35. Ahousing preferably formed of threeelements 4!,11-3'2, and 3 for ease of assembly has element .4! rotatablymounted at 38 on bracket 31. The strut .35 penetrates the housing at theopposite end from the mounting at 3.6. Housing element 42 is preferablyin the for-m of a hollow cylinder and has fitted therein around itsinner periphery a resilient member .44, preferably rubber, ofcylindrical form. A plurality of arcuate segments .45, preferably threein number, .are

positioned within therresil-ient member 344 and disposed around theperiphery of strut 35.. These segments are formed by molding andsintering powdered metal'or metals of different melting points in amanner now Wellknown in forming porous metal bearings of theself-lubricating type absorbed by immersing the bushing in lubricatingoil then to be exuded to the friction surface of strut 35. The lubricanteliminates noise or squeak. The segments 45 are plural in number becauseof the fact that they are metal and substantially rigid and as thefriction surface they must be adapted to be compressed around strut 35.Relative movement between the segments provides the desired flexibility.The resilient member 44 provides suflicient flexibility so that thehousing element containing the segments 45 may be forced on to strut 35with the surface engagement between segments 45 and strut 35 underconsiderable pressure. Washers 46 and 41 cooperating with the base ofhousing element 42 and projecion 48 on element 4| hold the segments 45and member 44 in place when housing elements 4| and 42 are threadedtogether. Housing element 43 threads on an extension 49 of housingelement 42 and contains therein a moisture sealing washer 50, preferablyrubber. Longitudinal movement in either direction of strut 35 relativeto the housing is possible but resisted by friction. The segments 45 arepreferably compressed around strut 35 with sufficient pressure torequire a substantial force to cause relative movement between thehousing and the strut 35. This may be accomplished by having a force fitbetween the dimensions of the segments and the strut whereby the shaftis driven into place under pressure.

A simplified form of the Fig. 3 device is shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Thetubular cylindrical housing 5| has welded as at 52 or otherwise fixedthereon a bracket 53 which may be attached to the frame side rail In inany suitable manner. The resilient member 54, preferably formed ofrubber, is retained in housing 5| by snap rings 56 and 51 and it in turnencompasses a plurality of arcuate segments 55, preferably three innumber. These segments are formed by molding and sintering powderedmetal or metals of different melting points as explained above in thedescription of the Fig. 3 form. Lubricant may be provided in the form ofgraphite included in the metal mixture supplemented by or substituted byfluid lubricant absorbed by immersing the bushing in lubricant oil thento be exuded to the friction surface of strut 35. The segments 55 arepreferably formed with an undercut adjacent their longitudinal edges.The surface from which the undercut is taken is alternated so that theshoulders 60 cooperate with the adjacent undercut to give the segments55 a degree of stability and yet permit a radial contraction of thecylinder formed by the cooperating segments. The strut 35 is assembledwith a force fit between it and the segments 55 so that a substantialforce is required to overcome the friction between the two surfaces andcause relative movement.

Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate shock absorbers 30 which have springs added toadapt them for use in the steering mechanism of the vehicle. In thesteering mechanism it is necessary that the shock absorber return to adesignated position after the movement caused by a bump so that the tierod length and steering will not be permanently distorted. The tie rod2| has a housing element 6| formed thereon. Housing.

elements 62 and 63 are threaded thereto. The second portion of the tierod 2| penetrates the housings and is mounted on pitman arm 28. Rod 2|has a portion 64 having an enlarged diameter and forming shoulders 65and 66. Enlarged portion 64 of rod 2| has compressed thereon segments 61which are similar to segments 45 of the Fig. 3 device. These segments 51are preferably three in number and have spaces therebetween whereby theycan be moved radially inward. The segments are formed of a molded andsintered powdered metal having a lubricant content therein as in Fig. 3.The segments are retained within a cylinder of resilient material ll.Washers H and 12 position the resilient material ll and threading thehousing elements together increases pressure on the resilient materialthereby increasing friction between segments 61 and the tie rod 2|.Springs 68 and 69 are disposed in housing elements 5| and 63,respectively. These springs abut their respective housing elements androd shoulders 55 and 66 and are adapted to return rod 2| to the positionillustrated in Fig. '7 relative to housing elements 6|, B2, and 63 afterthe distorting load has been removed therefrom. Movement of rod 2| inthe housing is possible, but considerable force is required and thesprings return it to its original position.

The incorporation of a device of this nature in the steering tie rodspermits a front road wheel to be shocked by road bumps and the motion isdampened and not transmitted through the tie rods to the other frontroad wheel. A shock absorber is preferably provided in each tie rod.

I claim:

1. A shock absorber device comprising a housing, an inner memberslidably mounted for movement in either direction from an initialposition relative to said housing, resilient means engaging saidhousing, a plurality of arcuate molded and sintered powdered metalsegments having a lubricant content circumferentially spaced around saidirmer member and constricted between said resilient means and said innermember, means carried by said housing and operable to positively retainsaid segments in substantially fixed relation to said housing wherebyfriction between said inner member and said segments yieldingly resistsrelative motion between said members and a pair of springs carriedwithin said housing at opposite ends thereof and reacting against saidinner member respectively from opposite directions whereby said innermember is returned to said initial position regardless of direction ofmovement.

2. A shock absorber device comprising a housing member having anelongated opening therein, a rod penetrating said opening, a pluralityof arcuate molded and sintered metallic elements having a lubricantcontent therein surrounding said rod, means carried by said housingmember and operable to positively limit axial movement of said elementsrelative to said housing and a tubular rubber element circumscribingsaid metallic elements and resiliently urging said metallic elementsinto frictional engagement with said rod to resist relative movementbetween said housing and said rod.

.3. A shock absorber device comprising a housing member having anelongated opening therein, a rod penetrating said opening, a pluralityof arcuate molded and sintered metallic elements having a lubricantcontent therein surrounding said rod, said arcuate elements beingprovided 5 with undercut longitudinally extending edges adapted tofacilitate overlapping of one element by an adjacent element and toaccommodate radial contraction of the assembled elements, means carriedby said housing member and operable to positively limit axial movementof said elements relative to said housing and a tubular element ofelastic material circumscribing said metallic elements and resilientlyurging said metallic elements into frictional engagement with said rodto resist relative movement between said housing and said rod.

ROY E. BLUE.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Kennedy Apr. 15, 1913Number Number 15 Number Name Date Duncan Dec. 27,1921 Paton Feb. 26,1929 Bechereau May 21, 1929 OConnor May 21, 1929 Calkins et al Sept. 19,1933 Bogart Dec. 13, 1938 Wellman Oct. 31, 1939 Tea Aug. 27, 1940Olander Dec. 9, 1941 Whisler, Jr., et a1. Oct. 17, 1944 Snyder Apr. 10,1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date France Oct. 18, 1905 France Apr. 22,1929 Great Britain Feb. 25, 1932

